8/4/2021 - Local students will be starting school soon, and that means parents are busy getting school supplies, new clothes and back packs. The start of the new school year is also a  popular time to get up-to-date on vaccinations, especially for those students heading into kindergarten, 7th grade and college.

Knox Public Health (KPH) offers vaccines throughout the week, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For those who cannot get in during the week, KPH is conducting a school vaccination clinic on Saturday (Aug. 7) from 8 a.m. to noon. Another school vaccination clinic will be held on Aug. 28. To make an appointment at either clinic, call 740-399-8008. 

Last year’s in-home learning due to COVID-19 prompted some parents to forgo the required vaccines. Now, public health officials stress it is more important than ever, that kids are up to date on all of the required vaccines.

Unvaccinated children are at increased risk for contracting vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps and whooping cough. They also may spread such diseases which are serious or potentially life-threatening for high-risk individuals such as infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated and others who have weakened immune systems due to other health conditions.

The following immunizations are required for the 2021-22 school year:

• Kindergarten: the full series of Dtap (diptheria/tetanus/pertussis) and MMR (measles/mumps/rubella), polio, chickenpox, hepatitis B and varicella
• 7th Grade: all vaccines required for kindergarten, plus Tdap (tetanus/diptheria/pertussis). In addition, HPV and meningitis are recommended.
• College: Check with school officials to see what is required; HPV,
  hepatitis B and meningitis are recommended.